Expensive Textbooks

Professor McGonagall's words did not dampen everyone's enthusiasm.

Ron, for example, was thrilled. "That's enough! If I sense myself before bed every day, I won't need a wand. That's so cool!"

He closed his eyes and loosely held his hands in front of him, as though manipulating something that did not exist.

Professor McGonagall poured cold water on his excitement again.

"Actually, only Europe and America use wands. Other regions do not all use wands as casting mediums. Take Africa's Wagadu School of Magic, for example. Their students all use gestures to cast spells, using their own hands as casting mediums."

"Mr. Weasley, if you truly wish to be rid of your wand, you would be better off ordering textbooks from Wagadu School of Magic. They would work far faster than books from the School of Philosophical Thinking, and be more useful as well."

"Besides, constantly correcting your pronunciation, writing essays, waving your wand, and sensing the rhythm between your own magnetic field and the Earth's magnetic field while casting are all forms of training."

"So, Mr. Granger, instead of rubbing your hands together, you should practice casting a few more times."

Fine, you really weren't going to let me off, were you?

How had I offended you?

Basil was speechless.

The School of Philosophical Thinking Professor McGonagall mentioned gave Basil a sense of familiarity with meditation in fantasy novels.

In fantasy novels, it was a method by which mages and wizards trained their spiritual power.

Some, like the School of Philosophical Thinking, sought power within themselves.

Others visualized powerful artifacts, celestial bodies, natural phenomena, or Magical Creatures to improve themselves.

To be honest, the moment he had obtained Riddle, Basil had specifically asked him about it.

Whether there were any similar methods.

But the answer was no.

All wizards grew stronger through uninterrupted spellcasting and learning increasingly difficult new spells.

Voldemort's self-transfiguration magic and creation of Horcruxes to split and purify himself, as well as Dumbledore's philosophy of love, were not mainstream.

Yet those two non-mainstream wizards had become Archmages.

The School of Philosophical Thinking was also non-mainstream within the wizarding world.

Perhaps...

So, after class, when the other students had left the classroom, Basil stopped Professor McGonagall.

"Could you tell me about the School of Philosophical Thinking? I want to understand it. I want to understand why simply gazing inward can grant one abilities that move with a thought, like the innate gifts of Magical Creatures."

Professor McGonagall could not resist ruffling Basil's golden hair. "I can recommend some books to you. At the very least, you will not let their contents interfere with your studies."

She gracefully waved her wand.

A piece of parchment and a quill soaked with ink flew out from the classroom.

The quill's tip danced across the parchment, leaving behind elegant handwriting and a signature:

"The Universe Within the Human Body," "Throw Away Your Wand, Feel Light All Over," "Legendary Wizard - Benjamin"

Minerva McGonagall

"All books on the School of Philosophical Thinking are in the Restricted Section. This was a decision made in the seventeenth century by the then-headmistress, Dilys Derwent. It was because this school was extremely popular at the time, leading a large number of students to become unwilling to study."

As she said this, Professor McGonagall adjusted her square-framed glasses, and her gaze turned stern.

"So, Basil, I do not want you sharing these books with your classmates. Especially Mr. Weasley."

Basil nodded repeatedly.

Only after seeing him nod did Professor McGonagall continue. "The last of these three books leans more toward autobiography. Hmm, rather like Lockhart's books. You must learn to ignore the lengthy passages where he sings his own praises."

As she handed the parchment to Basil, she hesitated again.

"Basil, you may read the last book carefully, following my instructions."

"You will need it next term."

"Need it next term?" Ron repeated.

After Professor McGonagall and Basil parted ways, with her returning to the second floor—her office, study, and bedroom—

Ron, Harry, and Hermione, who had been hiding in Classroom Eleven, jumped out.

They had heard the entire conversation.

Professor McGonagall's final words had made them extremely curious.

Even Ron, who had practically been singled out for criticism, could not be bothered to complain.

Looking at the three of them, whose eyes were filled with question marks,

Basil shrugged. "I happen to know about that. But I have only heard about it. Don't go spreading it around."

Harry and Hermione immediately stared at Ron.

Ron nodded unwillingly.

Under Basil's influence, he had become quite the blabbermouth, fond of spreading gossip everywhere.

Basil continued, "You all know that no one can remain in the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position for more than a year."

"So, after finding a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, the school often finds the next candidate one or even two years in advance."

Hermione immediately raised her hand. Ron and Harry exchanged a look of disdain. She loved being the first to answer.

"I know—Gilderoy Lockhart! In fact, I have wanted to buy his books for a long time. They are all bestsellers. But unfortunately, I have already spent almost all the Galleons I exchanged."

"I had already planned to buy them next year. Which one is the textbook?"

"Which one?" Basil sneered. "All of them. Breaking Up With Female Ghosts, Traveling With Ghouls, Vacationing With Mother Yakshas, Traveling With Trolls, Traveling on a Boat With Vampires, Wandering With Werewolves, and A Year With Tibetan Yetis. Seven books in total. Five Galleons each, thirty-five Galleons altogether."

"Thirty-five Galleons!" Ron sucked in a breath, looking as though he were about to faint.

"Is that expensive?" Hermione, the daughter of middle-class British dentists, looked puzzled.

"Very expensive!" Harry, a true rich second-generation child who had nevertheless once been poor, nodded in complete sympathy.

Ron's face reddened. "Next year, five of us from our family will be attending Hogwarts. Altogether—"

"One hundred and seventy-five Galleons!" Basil blurted out from beside him.

"—it will cost one hundred and seventy-five Galleons. By the usual pattern, second-year students only need to buy one copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2. Even if the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor wanted to make a little money as usual, they would only designate one book as a new textbook. That bastard Lockhart is just too—"

Ron sighed.

"Though I know our family is not actually poor, my parents really have no habit of saving money. I truly do not know where they will come up with so much."

Hermione still did not quite understand.

She pointed out bluntly, "It is normal for textbooks to be expensive. Harry, you attended school in the Muggle World too, didn't you? In fact, if you walk into any bookshop, a book costs at least several dozen pounds. Even renting one costs around ten pounds. At Muggle schools, textbooks probably cost four hundred and fifty to six hundred pounds a year—that is, fifty to one hundred and twenty Galleons a year. Not to mention that if you want to do well in school, you also have to buy supplementary books."

"In fact, books in the wizarding world are very cheap. And one book can be used for several years. For example, A History of Magic is used for seven years."

Ron was driven mad with anger.

He knew he was right, but he did not know how to refute her. He could only crane his neck and glare at Hermione resentfully.

His taut rationality restrained him from swearing.

Basil stepped forward. "Hermione, then why don't you look at how much other books in the wizarding world cost? How do Lockhart's books compare to them?"

"Expensive is expensive. In fact, if you broaden your view to the whole world, British and American textbooks are absurdly expensive too. Students from ordinary families can only take out loans if they want to attend university."

"The wizarding world is not as outrageous as the Muggle World. Clearly, Gilderoy Lockhart is cashing in. He is raking in money by the fistful."

"I do not know what Dumbledore is thinking."

Thanks to Qingyou Jingya, Huameng Tiansheng, Crazy Little Pig in Action, Tai Shi Corn Silk, and the other readers for their monthly votes, recommendations, and continued reading.